wadeocu Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 @*!! I shot a doe right at quiting time tonight and made a bad shot. Don't ask - I just messed it up. I'm pretty sore about this; I'm actually rethinking my continued particpation in this sport - after 22 years. Anyhow, I climed down the tree right away because when I shot, I couldn't see the reaction with all the black powder smoke and when she emerged from the cloud, I watched her bolt across the field and over a hill seemingly unhit. I thought I needed to find the spot where she was standing to see if I hit her before it got dark. I just wasn't sure that I hit her. I found the spot and there was a dollar bill size splash of blood with stomach contents in it. Some of the leaves were not very digested so I think I hit her in the stomach. It was dark shortly afterward. I backed out and went around and left. I'm going back out in the morning to look for her. Any advice or thoughts? - Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 Give it as much time as possible. I don't know where you are, but there's quite the warm spell here. A deer left overnight in these parts might not be good by say afternoon, but hopefully you'll find her in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOYTnMUZZYboy Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 Tominator hit it right on the head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMn106 Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 You did the right thing by backing out. A gut shot deer can live up to 8-12 hours. If you did not spook her I bet she will not be too far. She probably went and laid down and that is where you will find her in the morning. Good Luck and let us know how it goes. By the way, Do not get so down on yourself that you think about quitting. It happens to everyone, just do your best to recover her. I know it gets disappointing but if it is something that you love, stick with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wadeocu Posted November 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 Thanks for the input guys. Im in west TN. I shot her a little after 5:00 pm. Sunrise is 6:00 am. It will be high 40's going down to 43 tonight, 58 by 9:00 and 72 by noon. I'll be there at first light and give it my best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tink Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 It may still be alive in the mornign Take your bow and camo and stalkit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sskybnd Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 yea if you left after you shot her and didnt bump her id say you might find her just over the hill, some times they will lay down 2 or three times before they die but not normaley more than 100 yards apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 Plan to have some buddies ready to help with a ground seach if you can't find her by tracking alone or with 1 person first. Too many guys tromping through, they get excited and get ahead of you, then you lose all hope. Have 1 with you and a few on standby.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoods07 Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 Swampy!! Amidst all of my pain with this election, I am inclined to say to leave her overnight, despite risks of predation. We left a gut shot doe last year for 4 hours, and apparently that wasn't enough. We had to stick an arrow in her at 1 yd...not a fun experience!!!! Let her lay down in peace!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 It may still be alive in the mornign Take your bow and camo and stalkit IMO she's dead. It's just a matter of how far she went. A gut shot deer with a bow will stay alive considerably longer than one with a gun in most cases but either way it's lethal...She probably is gonna head for water as that makes them quite thirsty.....at 40 this evening she will be fine if you find her in the morning. Good luck....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 good luck in the morning! Wise moving my backing out. I would bet she did not go far before laying down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Blade Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 Your not alone on this one,,,,,I shot a good buck this evening also shot was around 80 yards with a muzzleloader......When the smoke cleared the buck hobbled away,,,,When the blood is good its sprayed all over the ground,,,When the blood is bad its just very small drops about 5 to 10 yards apart......By the way he walked off I know he is hurt bad.......Tracked him about 300 yards heard him take off so decided to back out and wait untill morning..............I know the feeling and it sucks.......I hope to pick back up on the trail first thing in the morning........Good luck to ya...... :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoods07 Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 Be sure to keep us posted BTW!!! It sucks when we're left hanging! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 She probably is gonna head for water as that makes them quite thirsty.....Yep!! If all else fails check the water sources and she won't be far from there if she made it that far. I've already found them in the middle of a pond. Good Luck and don't get too down on yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wadeocu Posted November 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 Thanks for the advice and encouragement. I found her! I got there at dawn, went to the spot I had marked and could not find any more blood in the field to follow a trail. So I made my best guess as to where she went into the woods on the other side of the field after she went over the hill. I walked into the brush about 30 yards in and started looking around in the thick low spots that would make a good place to hunker down and hide. I found one spot where she had laid down and bled out a bit but not a bunch of blood. I started glassing around at the surrounding brush and got lucky and spotted her about more 30 yards away. She was still a bit warm to the touch and only somewhat stiff - no critter issues either. Turns out my shot was about 3-4 inches aft of where it should have been and angled just a bit. It went through her liver and stomach. She's at the processor now and I have some confidence back. Thanks fellas - Jack BTW, How did your situation turn out 4Blade? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 Been pretty warm here. Glad to hear you found her. Yotes have typically been an issue here in the past with deer left overnight. Where in west Tn are you at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 way to continue the search and congrats on finding here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wadeocu Posted November 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 Been pretty warm here. Glad to hear you found her. Yotes have typically been an issue here in the past with deer left overnight. Where in west Tn are you at? I'm hunting near Williston in Fayette County. The only scavengers that found her were some ants around the eyes. It was upper 40s for most of the night going down to 43 by 6:00AM. She was still warm from body heat when I field dressed her. I think the meat is fine, but I told the processor (a top notch outfit in Moscow that does nothing but deer) about the situation and he said he would clean her out and cool her down right away and will not process her if the meat appears spoiled. - Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beagleboy Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 I think you will find her in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 Congrats on finding her wadeocu!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 Good job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 Congrats man. Good job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeE141414 Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 Congrats on finding her! I'm glad your confidence is back up and you're ready to head back out there whether it be later this year or in years to come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 North of Jackson here. You are probably an hour and half from us. Some really nice deer taken out of the hatchie river bottoms to your east over closer to Bolivar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Illinois59 Posted November 7, 2008 Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 Congrats on the recovery. I tell ya, i wish i had access to this wealth of knowledge many years ago. Im sure i would have recovered some deer that i didnt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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